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Eleven terrorist groups based in Judea, Samaria and Gaza have officially rejected negotiations or compromise with Israel. Representatives of the groups met in Damascus Sunday and issued a joint statement.

The groups present included the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and Hamas.

"The Palestinian resistance movements affirm their rejection of direct, or indirect, negotiations and warn against the dangerous consequences of policies aimed at selling Palestinian national rights cheaply,” they said. They accused America and “the Zionists” of pushing for direct talks in order to “cover up the practices of the occupation.”

The message was released as PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, the head of Hamas's rival movement, Fatah, is planning meetings with United States officials to discuss the move to direct talks. Abbas has agreed in theory to hold direct talks, but demands that Israel make several concessions first, including a construction freeze east of the 1949 armistice line and an agreement to base the borders of a PA state on that line.

Hamas won most seats in the PA parliament in the 2006 elections. In 2007 the group seized control of Gaza, leading to a split with Fatah which left Fatah in control of Judea and Samaria. Hamas leaders have occasionally threatened to seize control of those areas as well.

The PFLP is another major force in PA politics. It is among the largest factions in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).